According to a witness, as cited by local media, the attacker first stabbed one person in the parking lot of a nearby McDonald's, then another one in the parking lot of the South Hedland mall, and then several people inside the mall, including a woman with a baby carriage.
Another witness was quoted by North West Telegraph as saying that law enforcement first attempted to stop the attacker by a stun gun, but "shot him when the taser didn’t work."
Police said the circumstances surrounding the shooting would be investigated "as per normal protocols."